Krishna Jayanthi is celebrated as the birthday of Lord Shri Krishna. Lord Sri Krishna was born on the ‘Rohini’ nakshatram (star) on Ashtami day.  The festival Sri Krishna Jayanti is also known as Gokulashtami and Janmashtami. Sri Krishna is Lord Vishnu’s eighth avatar (incarnation) on earth. He is considered to be the Lord’s most glorious incarnations.  Even saying and remembering His name brings joy because Sri Krishna himself was a manifestation of joy at all levels and in all walks of life. In Tamil Nadu Krishna Jayanthi is celebrated with great pomp as its a festival spelling happiness and joy as the saviour was born on this day.

People offer sweets like Vella Cheedai, Aval or Poha Payasam, Butter etc as these happen to be the Lord`s favourites. Many homes have beautiful kolams adorning their homes and little feet drawn in the floors as if to show little Krishna coming in to our homes. Poojas are performed and flowers and neivedhyams are offered late in the evening when the moon rises as this is the time the Lord was born.

In my home, Krishna Jayanthi is celebrated with the utmost devotion and love. From the time I learnt the art of “Yezha Kolams” when I was in school, it was my bounden responsibility to decorate the front yard with lovely kolams and with little baby footprints coming all the way to the pooja sanctum at home. In the mornings, we would help Madurai amma roll out the Cheedai balls and scrape the jaggery for the sweets. My sister and me would thread cleaned mango leaves in to a “Thoranam” and hang it outside our main entrance to the home. The home would be cleaned and decorated to welcome the little Lord!!!

Prayers Offered:

Krishnashtakam

Sri Krishna Ashtothram

Madhurashtakam

Sri Vishnu Sahasranamam.

Neivedhyams Offered to the Lord:

• Uppu Cheeddai
• Vella Cheedai
• Thenkuzhal.
• Nei Appam.
• Aval Pongal or Aval Payasam.
• Butter